South Carolina has produced some of the SEC’s most dominant pass rushers in recent history, and the Gamecocks may have another one on their roster this season.

There was Jadeveon Clowney, who was in the top 10 of sacks in the SEC in 2011 and 2012. Two years ago, the Gamecocks and Alabama were the only teams to have 2 pass rushers in the top 10 of sacks in the SEC. Last season, Kingsley “JJ” Enagbare for much of the season led the conference or was tied for the lead, and finished with 6 sacks in 8 games, which was 5th in the league.

What’s more, the NFL has taken 4 South Carolina defensive linemen to the NFL in the past 4 years, and Enagbare has a great chance to be the next in line. The 6-4, 265-pound senior out of Atlanta even considered the NFL before electing to return for another season in Columbia.

Enagbare is aware of the program history at the position.

“First off, it’s definitely a blessing to be in the position I’m in right now, a humbling experience,” he said at SEC Media Days. “We’re definitely trying to continue that trend, the legacy we produced over the last years, and try to up the standard for the next generation.”

With a group that includes Aaron Sterling, Jordan Burch and Zacch Pickens, Enagbare is the most experienced and a bona fide leader on a d-line that may be the strength of the team.

“Knowing that we legit have everything to win here,” he said in the spring. “I have everything I need to be successful, winning games. Whether it’s winning games as a team, or whether it’s me (accomplishing) my dreams of going to the NFL. I have everything I need to be successful here.”

He doubled down on those comments at SEC Media Days.

“We’re taking high pride in probably being one of the forces of the team and just the forces of the nation honestly,”  he said. “We’re loaded, honestly. I feel like we’re two, three deep, and we’re about to be dominant this year.”

Bleacher Report and Pro Football Focus have each given Enagbare a first-round projection in 2022 mock drafts, at No. 16 and No. 22.

Here’s how PFF described him: “Enagbare broke out as a junior in 2020, putting up an 89.2 pass-rushing grade in eight games. He probably would have been a Day 2 pick this year had he declared, but he returned to try to build on that for a full season. At 6-foot-4, 270 pounds, Enagbare has the frame everyone is looking for at the position early on in the draft.”

Defensive coordinator Clayton White agrees with Enagbare about the defensive line, which also includes Georgia State transfer Jordan Strachan, who led the FBS in sacks last season with 10.5 sacks.

“This group here is pretty impressive,” he said. “We have about four or five guys who are big and can run. Very impressive group. I don’t want to overhype them or anything, but they are pretty good. Those guys are definitely the best group on this football team, on this defense for sure.”

To prepare for the NFL, Enagbare has said he needs to add weight and improve his technique. What will also help is the new 4-2-5 defense, which is aggressive in its nature.

“I love this new defense, it’s very aggressive, and the aggression isn’t coming from the blitzing, it’s more the mentality,” he said. “It’s the way we attack everything, it’s running to the ball. Gotta go strip the ball away from the running back who’s 20 yards away, or just going hard. But this new defense is basically letting the d-line rush and get 1-on-1 opportunities, which is hopefully going to come out with more sacks and production from all of us.”

Enagbare’s 2020 season came after he had offseason hip surgery following his sophomore season, which was a game-changer for him.

Enagbare said motivation was at an all-time high following an offseason hip surgery in between his sophomore and junior seasons. He called the rehab one of the toughest times of his life. He made sure he appreciated simple daily activities like walking, and didn’t take them for granted.

“That set the tone for the whole year for me,” Enagbare said. “I wasn’t able to walk for a month or two. It brought something out of me I’ve never seen before that continued to grow in me.”

Look for that and then some this season as he tees up his chance to be selected in the NFL Draft.